Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-31
THECOMINGSTRUGGLE
BETWEEN THE TABLE GLASS NANUFAC-
TURERS AND THEIR WORKABN.
Tn. Factories 10 Close Down on the 18th Of November
Unless Solution Of the Question Shall bs
Sooner Arrived At
The ultimatum has been given by both

The ultimatum has been given by both
sides.
Unless the manufacturers or the men
change their minds very soon the crystal
tableware glass factories will close down
throughout the United States on the 26th
OF November.
This seems like hardly fitting thing to
do Immediately after Thanksgiving has
been celebrated. Give thanks on one day
for the blessings enjoyed during year,
and on the next usher in wage warfare,
which may last till another annual Thanks
giving day comes.
The history of the tr ouble and its causes
is a long one aud extends through several
years. 1t is not merely local affair, but
is a difference between the Manufacturers
Association and the American Flint Glass
Workers Union, and when the solid pha-
lanx of two such organizations are arrayed
against each other, the fight may be long
and bitter, and may mean ''starve out" or
| 'freeze out"
The actual difference is how the gath
erers shall be paid; shall it be BY the time
or by the piece? Shall they be paid for
every mold of glass gathered, or only Tor
those which are made into perfect pieces OF
ware, no matter whether the gatherer is re-
sponsible for the defective goods or not?
4 nf fha A y 4, w IL
made new list of numbers and pieces
which was intended to equalize the lists
throughout the country and place all fac
tories on q square footing, so far as wages
Maid il concerned. The list was presented
TO the manufacturers, and by them re-
iected. A conference was held IN Pitts
burg. and it was arranged by the men and
managers that two representatives OF the
trade aud two from the manufacturers he
appointed from each city where glass
works is located, and they form commit
tee whose duty it should be to make new
list. II is claimed by the managers that
this new list was to he entirely on piece
work basis, whereby the men are to be paid
for good ware only. 1t was also agreed
that if either side should refuse to accept
|
should give to the other notice in writing
of thirty days before strike or lockout
should be ordered. The work of making
the list was completed about the lst OF Dc
tober, and it put the prices and numbers
of all moves ut nearly the same point as In
the old list When this new list came to
i've voted upon by the local unions it was
decided that they would not allow piece
work to be the rule 80 far as gatherers
were concerned. They claimed that since
the gatherers had almost unanimously
been paid by the turn, they did not under
stand the expression "On piece work
basis" to include the gatherers, and sup
posed 1t meant only those employees who
have in many factories been paid by the
piece.
There is a difference of opinion, also, as
to whether piece work pay for the gath
erers is Just or not. A workman put it in
this shape yesterday: "rhe gatherer must
take ont every piece of glass from the pot,
no matter whether the presser, hnlsher,
Upper, handler or learman spoils it alter
ward, and since this is so, ! can not see
how he can be held equally responsible
with the men who handle his work after
he has done with it. Aud besides, his
pay is small, and if he loses few pieces
his dollar and ten cents per turn becomes
beautifully less" On the other hand, a
manufacturer said: The gathcrer may
gather bisters or cords, aud may put the
glass into the moulds so the ware will be
entirely imperfect.
What the result Of the strike will he
cannot be coDjectured, ana when 1t will
end is a still more difficult question.